Jackal Among Snakes

Galamon rode his horse onwards, leaning on its head. He felt the exposed flesh on his torso burn, and now that the archers had perished and deprived him of distraction, he could feel the pain of the sunlight. He tried to focus on the pain to drive away the bestial curse of vampirism swirling through his blood. He kept his eyes fixed on the wooden palisades ahead. It was not much longer before his task would be finished.

When he came near, he jumped from the horse. It neighed in pain, and the sheer force toppled the creature to the ground. Galamon cleared the wooden stakes easily, crashing amidst some jars full of water. He heard screams from the houses beside him—they sounded loud, so sharp were his senses. He crawled away from the sunlight like a deranged spider, retreating further into the shadows.

He could smell blood all around him. The smell of the ocean wind carried it. He could smell it seeping into the wooden planks at the docks, could smell it in the earth, the grass… he kept his hand on his neck, squeezing tightly. The world seemed tinted red. Galamon kept to the shadows, waiting until the beast realized it was caged; that he owned it, not the other way around.

He heard rushed footfalls heading towards him, and with it, a scent of blood. He heard the heartbeat—frantic, fast, driven by fear and excitement.

“Galamon,” a voice called out. “Hot damn. I knew you could do it.”

It’s calling for me, Galamon noticed. The heartbeat is calling for me.

“Listen. I know that you just finished with that one thing, but I don't have time to mince words. Where are you? Damned dark back here. Could you come out?”

It wants me to come out. It’s not afraid of what might happen.

Galamon lunged forward towards the welcoming voice, throwing his helmet aside. He grasped the prey and fell on it. His sharp teeth sunk into something hot, and he drank. It tasted sweet—like a cup of water after traversing a desert, or a piece of meat after a long hunt. This was the best feeling, Galamon supposed.

His prey struggled with weak, vain hits at his side, pushing and struggling. Galamon did not care. He held on tightly, enjoying the blood. This seemed especially pure and powerful—a mages’ blood, he could tell. It had a faint tinge to it—magic in the blood.

“Think…” the voice whispered, struggling against Galamon.

Think of what? Galamon pondered.

“Would your family… want this?”

Galamon’s mind spun, and his world of red shattered. He looked down and saw his brother, battered and broken, bleeding from the neck. The image slowly faded, and Argrave’s face replaced his brother’s.

Galamon tossed Argrave away and leapt back, in panic. He slammed his back against the house’s wall. Argrave crawled away, holding his still-bleeding neck.

“By Veid… I-I…” Galamon gingerly reached forward. Argrave stared at him with hollow gray eyes.

#####

Argrave watched Galamon. The unshakable elf was, for the first time Argrave had ever seen, panicking. He tried to think of something witty to say, but his neck stung, and his brain felt like it had a heavy fog over it. Lethargy threatened to consume him, his breathing was too fast, and he felt dreadfully weak. He blinked and bit his lips, knowing that sleeping here might mean his death.

Galamon rushed forward, reaching into Argrave’s satchel. He pulled free a stamina potion, and then held it to Argrave’s lips with trembling fingers. Argrave caught it with his teeth and tilted his head back. It did not make the pain diminish, nor stop the bleeding, but it did allow him to regain his focus.

Argrave used the last of his magic to cast healing magic, sealing the wound. Galamon collapsed backwards, staring at Argrave with an all-too-complicated expression. Panic, fear, guilt, anger… it was a veritable salad of regret.

with a hoarse voice. “I knew

intent to… the beast…

said Argrave.

Those fangs of his looked very ominous now that they had bitten a piece of

type for the donor.” Argrave tried to stand, but he collapsed amidst a shattered pot. His muscles were

hesitant to approach. It was very evident

and then looked around. “Came here to tell you you’re needed. Take your Ebonice axe, head to the gate. Anneliese can probably position you.

“But you

all if you don’t. Anneliese will explain things. Look for the beautiful woman

I never… my wound just… the

talking. Move your feet. Make use of the blood I so

from where he’d dropped it, and then ran to the gate as

take wild animals as pets. Tigers are cool enough, sure, but eventually, they’ll remind you that they’re wild animals, just like vampires are killers. Argrave bent his knees, then placed

His legs felt as weak as clouds, as though they could fail at any minute and send him crashing back to the ground. If I hadn’t been able to remember that Galamon’s family was the only thing keeping him anchored to life, I doubt I would have been able to draw him from that

and he could feel his heart struggling. He passed the corner of the house and fell against a barrel, holding himself up shakily.

them… is doing it wrong. He’s in line of sight. He’s

and go to them, but the barrel moved and he stumbled, collapsing onto the grass. Things

#####

men made of metal. The snow elf commander refused to allow them to participate, citing that they were not as strong as Veidimen. Ryles assumed ‘Veidimen’ was what those abominable

here, assumed the position of an advisor abruptly using the Mark of Monticci, and then enacted this ‘cooperation’ with the snow elves. The man had been willing to risk life and limb, so Ryles did not question that he

Symon,” Ryles said quietly, staring

“Yes, Commander Ryles?”

“Take command. I am going to return to

“What, sir? Why?”

off.

the gate opposite where they were doing battle with the metal creatures. He rode away,

it is not a coincidence. It is my duty to take this matter to the Duke, as much as I would wish to stay with

#####

up!”

his eyes.

get ready for school,” someone

go to school,” Argrave answered. “I’m a

like a child,” the voice

to gym class. He ran around, the environment

bleachers were made of stone. Argrave remembered he had to get something from the supply closet. He opened the door to the

Argrave walked closer to them. They turned